Mayor says meeting in White House could result in financial aid for city

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib recently met at the White House to discuss a number of issues including possible financial aid for the city. Photo: Facebook

By Charles Sercombe
Mayor Amer Ghalib is crossing his fingers to deliver a financial gift to Hamtramck on his way out of office.
Ghalib recently visited National Security Adviser Stephen Miller, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair in the White House to talk about his upcoming confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Kuwait, easing up immigration restrictions for those who live in Yemen and bringing home, potentially, millions of dollars to Hamtramck.
First up, the possible financial boost to the city:
“There are good indicators to meet our financial demands to resolve some of the issues the city has suffered over the past decades. … There are good signs that we will get some financial resources that would help us solve our city’s chronic issues,” Ghalib said on his Facebook page.
At the recent city council meeting, Ghalib offered more specifics.
“We asked for a lot of resources for Hamtramck,” Ghalib said. “If it gets approved, we will see some positive signs. It’s going to solve some chronic issues for the city that we have been suffering for the last decade.”
Ghalib said that those issues include financial and infrastructure help, as well as public safety issues.
“I don’t want to announce exactly what they are until I get confirmation that it’s approved,” he said. “If it does, I will consider this visit the most productive in the history of Hamtramck, and I will be happy to accomplish something for the community before I leave.”
In response, Councilmember Mohammed Hassan praised Ghalib, saying: “No matter what, you make us proud.”
Ghalib noted that he paid his own way to Washington D.C.
As for Yemeni immigration, Ghalib said he spoke with Miller, who has been directing the administration to take a hardline on not allowing immigrants into the country, and deporting many who are here.
President Trump is not allowing anyone from Yemen to travel into the U.S. At a campaign rally last year, Trump referred to immigrants from Yemen as “terrorists.”
Ghalib and two members of the city council are Yemeni-Americans. Despite Trump’s slur, Ghalib continued to endorse Trump for president.
In the meantime, Ghalib is waiting to get scheduled for a hearing before the U.S. Senate to confirm his nomination as ambassador to Kuwait.
He said that could happen in a matter of weeks.
Posted Sept. 5, 2025